Help me out with living room makeover that won’t cost the earth 1930’s semi

[Daddylonglegs123]

As the title suggests help me out with inspiration for our front room that won’t cost the earth.

Our front room has a bay window with neutral coloured ivory/cream roman blinds. We have two brown/tan coloured leather couches which are both staying but could update cushions, TV and stand staying, fire staying, light beige carpet staying.

Would like to decorate/paint the room (not sure what colour colours either safe similar neutral shade, green shade or a darker teal shade, Cadburys purple, bright yellow, or dark grey almost black maybe)? It doesn’t get a lot of natural light wondering whether to paint the fire surround and either paint or replace the corner cabinet (suggestions for something else with links or pictures) and whether to paint or replace the mirror suggestions for what type pictures or links and also maybe a new light fitting (not too low). Suggestions please.

It looks like the picture rails need putting back to me!

I'd be tempted to start adding colour by going in person to a store (I'd go to John Lewis Dunelm or Sainsbury's with Habitat) and finding some blankets / cushions for the sofas that I loved. Then I'd add some thick complementary curtains. I think the room needs softening with fabrics.

Whatever Colour you choose for the walls, paint the fire surround the same colour. Plus having pictures/accessories will make the room feel warmer. I would look at brochures which have room settings, such as Oka, Graham & Greene and similar to get some ideas which you might like for the period property, and then look for bargains in TK Maxx etc.

And Pinterest of course

I looked at Little Greene Palatine, which, I think is a good match for Cadburys. I think it will be awful on the walls, but if you used complementary colours, you could find rugs, cushions etc containing that colour . Little Greene do a softer colour called Hortense, which has something of a 1930s feel, and would make for a calm space . maybe a Palatine picture rail?

Thanks all for the suggestions so far. It does like quite sparse but is easier to tidy. We tried to go to a more modern contemporary look a goodly few years ago and removed the picture rail, dated dust gathering curtains and embossed wallpaper etc. Our son had his Xbox in there and we have tended to mainly live in the back room with the dog which is much bigger with hard flooring.

Don’t really want to go back to long dusty curtains and the picture rail any other suggestions?

Definitely colour and fabrics. Some throws and cushions, and perhaps a rug, would be a good shout. Look at introducing both colour and textures through fabric, to soften it. If you have a colour you like, you could also introduce it through a picture or two, or perhaps accessories like a vase or similar.

I would also look at replacing the mirror with something softer or more contemporary, perhaps round or with more rounded edges.

I'd either stay with light walls but find a crisper fresher white, also paint the surround white and replace the mirror with a round mirror perhaps? Then add texture and jewel colour through cushions and blankets. Plus lots of green plants.
Or, go bold and deep on the walls with more neutral cushions and accessories

Beige and contrasting browns are very in, so combination of ivory, beige and sand would be interesting and not so difficult to do with your current furniture.

Alternatively, sage is a more modern equivalent to teal.

Panelling has become a bit overdone but works well in 30s style houses. I’d be tempted to do a lower half wall panelling in a sage green with an off white above.

And add a couple of framed pictures, photos or art work. Something monochrome perhaps if you go for white walls

@Persiana and @WombatBombat like your suggestions of round mirror, ivory, beige, sand and sage colours.

Any suggestions whether or how to paint our corner unit/dresser or what to replace it with?

Really like this room in the photos below but think the colour too dark for us and too many nik nacks to curate, dust, buy and couldn’t do without a fire.

Would the same or similar mirror work for our more outdated fire and maybe ivory walls and sand and brown or sage accessories. Still need inspiration for a piece of corner furniture too.

Both kids will be at Uni come September and would like our home to be nice for us and for them to be pleased to bring friends back to.

Watching with interest, we have a very similar south facing room with parquet flooring and too much wood!

I’d like a sage colour but not too dark, a bigger rug to cover more of the floor and some new curtains and cushions. I think more plants would be great too but I’m not very green fingered so they need to be very hardy!

Same I always used to over water any plants I had.

I’ve just done mine with an accent wall dark duck egg blue. It looks lovely with the wood. I’ve got blinds at my window and lots of cushions and throws in various shades of blue

Here’s pic

Is stain the wood around the fireplace a darker colour

paint the walls an olive green

Add accents of burnt orange such as cushions, rug etc

I love 70's inspired decor at the moment and your sofa would be a great piece of furniture to work around!

Sage green walls, reds, golds and browns for soft furnishings, bronze metallic and a snake plant and aspidistra for greenery - they both prefer you forgetting to water them!

Shelving is always my go to and the area that corner unit is in screams for floor to ceiling shelving (I can see it in the pic you posted of the room you like). It breaks an area up and provides interest and art on the wall behind the sofa would look good. And like others have said, a more modern mirror or a mirror from the era of the house could look good too.

I’ve just used farrow and ball card room green and French grey in my house (not in the same room) they’re lovely colour greens

I can't believe you removed the picture rail!!!

@Daddylonglegs123 how high are your ceilings? We’ve never had picture rails but I’d quite like them if our rooms are tall enough.

I must admit, I thought removing picture rails was something done in the 80s and 90s.

Plants! You need green.

Ohhh put the picture rail back, the room has lost its character! A strong colour under the rail can be amazing